Stay Solid

Here it is.

I am freaking out about my future. That being said, I have been freaking out about my future for the past four years (a lot of good that’s done me). I am not so concerned about things on a financial scale, nor a security one, rather it is more of a “if I don’t go back to school and figure out what I am doing, I am going to die of boredom and/or lack of interest in everything” sort of thing. 

I desperately want to be back in school, learning, experiencing, filling my brain up with all sorts of facts and ideas and things that I want to remember for a long time (unlike high school). I am willing to part with the necessary money and apply for grants and scholarships and student loans, and there is a plethora of topics I am interested in.. the only problem is I am not interested in any of them enough to make a degree out of it, and I am not willing to spend all that money on a degree when I’m not even sure I want to make a career out of it.

I have talked to friends, family, co-workers and strangers about my dilemma, and everyone seems to agree that yes, it would be silly to pay for an education that barely creates a spark in my imagination. But I haven’t gotten advice from anyone on what to do until I figure it out. I am tired of just working and hanging out. I am tired of reading basic information on different topics and hoping one day I will go “OH, HEY, here’s what I have been looking for!” I am bored with my day to day and I make up for it by buying new things and travelling (ie. spending my money). Mostly I am just tired of not knowing where I want to be in a year, or five, or ten. I know it can take awhile to figure out what you want to do with your life (or at least for part of it), but at four years and counting, I just wish I was one step closer than I was when I graduated.

Unfortunately, I’m not.

In other news, I’m back on the Facebook Hating Wagon.
The site is going to be “rolling out” it’s Timeline feature in the next little bit, making it a mandatory component for all users, and while I’ve never been particularly fond of Facebook, this is bringing it to a whole new level. The website is already taking cyber-stalking to new level (that’s old news), but now with the Timeline feature, it will be even easier. Before Timeline, you’d have to scroll and then click, scroll and then click, scroll and then click.. and so on until you got back to the beginning of Facebook User A’s Wall. Now, it’s just a scroll and a click (without all the repetition) away. Simply scroll down to the year you’d like to creep and Voila! All the information is at your fingertips, whether you were “friends” with Facebook User A at that time or not.

Wait. What? You mean to tell me that if I add someone on Facebook today, 02/07/2012, they will be able to see everything I’ve done on Facebook up until this point? How I used to work at Company 1 in 2011, the ridiculous amounts of statuses I posted about my cat in 2010 when I first adopted her (bordering on crazy cat lady), the guy I dated on and off for a year before deciding I wasn’t into guys, 2007 when I decided to go to Church every Sunday and dramatically changed my entire outlook, and the day I decided all of that was bullshit, pictures of the party in 2008 that got me grounded for 4 months for reasons I’d hoped to have forgotten by now, the charges laid against me by the NYPD, my driving demerits and psychological analysis results, my STI test results*… okay maybe the last few ones won’t be there, but you get my point right? Facebook is bringing a whole new meaning to the saying “once it’s on the internet, it’s there forever”. It’s always been fairly easy to find the information you want on the website, but now you are allowing someone I have just met to look into what was my life 5 years ago. People change a lot in 5 years, what matters is now, not what was and there is no reason for you to have such easy access to my entire life. If you were meant to know everything, I’d tell you (or you’d at least find out from somewhere other than the damn internet). 

And while I have hummed and hawed over it for the past couple of weeks, I will probably be keeping my Facebook after the roll-out commences, if only to stay in contact with those who refuse to stop perpetually internet stalking me.

*Just so we’re clear, these are examples and are not necessarily things you would find on my Facebook timeline if you happened to creep the shit out of me.

When I am older and have kids (..what?), at Christmastime we will fill the stockings as a family. I am sure people currently do this.. but my family never has, it has always been Santa’s job (as in most families? Or am I just assuming this because this is how I grew up..). I just think it would be fun to have each member select a thing or two that goes in each one, because I always find little items for people that I don’t want to give as a legit gift, but just.. a thing. A stocking is the perfect place to put it! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. Probably all wrapped up in Christmas itself.

Speaking of which, I am quite fond of the holiday. I’ve always had a solid time during the season, it’s generally a positive time for me; I associate it with a lot of good memories and everything that we hear Christmas is supposed to be about (good tidings, joy, love etc). Everything glows, others who love the holiday are so excitable, and if you’re lucky enough to live where it snows - everything glistens.
Next up is New Years. New Years always just feels fresh. Even if I’m doing the same thing when it turns to a Calendar new year, it’s fresh. 

It’s the end of the year, so much has happened -  a lot more is going to happen, and I’ve got plans.

I never update this.

Google maps is not really all that intelligent sometimes. I do not understand its logic.
For instance, I am bussing to Victoria tomorrow night/Wednesday morning, but I am getting off in Vancouver and venturing to the ferry terminal via skytrain/bus. Which is all fine and dandy, I have completed the trip before and it is really not all too bad, but for the sake of this explanation: When asking for directions, if you type in 1150 Station ST (greyhound stn location in Vancouver) as A, and then Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Vancouver, BC as B, it will give you a list of alternate options for 1150 Station ST that are more specific (ie including a city or cross street). Again, that is all fine and dandy, except for the fact that 1150 Station ST in Vancouver is not even an option on the list. I can understand it not being the first or second, but it doesn’t even exist. Which is ridiculous in my opinion. Why is it not even there? I have already specified in B that I want to be in Vancouver, and even if I were to start in a different city, you’d still assume that Vancouver should be on the list of options for my desired street location, no? I’m just sayin’, it doesn’t make sense. Fix your shit, Google.

Vous parlez Francais?

I’m off to Montreal tonight and I have to say I don’t think I have ever been more excited about anything. My dad’s whole side of the family lives in Montreal and I’ve visited a couple of times before (and I’ve absolutely loved it every single time), but this is the first time I will be going where I am a) legal, therefore able to go to pubs and bars that my father went to growing up and b) old enough to venture out on my own and do what I want to do (also this is awesome because I am old enough to know where in the city I want to go to, instead of just going places my parents think I will enjoy). There are so many things I want to do, so many things I want to learn. I am excited to spend a week with my father as well as part of my family that I never get to see. Words cannot even express what I am feeling right now. I get on a plane and I may just pee myself with excitement. 

Growing up, Montreal was always the place I wanted to be. It’s still where I think I want to be, and this trip will help me figure out if I want to make any of it an actuality. 

Offensive is the new classy

Sometimes I worry about my current chosen career path (something within the event management field), or really just any career path I may choose. Why? Because we live in a professional world. In order to be reputable, you’ve got to be professional at all times, you’ve got to hold your tongue, and you’ve got to ensure you’re not stepping on anybody’s toes. Now, I’m not the worst person to have employed ever. In fact, I’d say I’m quite the asset. Sure, I talk loud and a lot of people think I’m rude, but the fact of the matter is, a lot of people think I’m being a bitch when I’m not (I’m sorry you don’t understand my tone, that has nothing to do with me). And when I’m “nice”, people ask me why I’m acting so weird. It takes some time to get used to me. I know a lot of people that hated my guts until they actually got to know me. It happens. Whatever. I speak my mind, and I know what I like and what I don’t. I’m open-minded, I have my opinions, and yeah, I like to share them. In my mind, this is not a downfall at all. With me, you pretty much always know what you’re getting. I understand professionalism, and while I do slip up sometimes (I’m working on it!), I will never stop voicing my opinions. I’m not saying you have to agree with me, but for everyone’s sanity, you should at least be open and listen, don’t be ignorant (it’s one of the worst things to be). I’m honest and quite blunt sometimes, but I try to tell it like it is, and if you can’t handle that, then, sorry. I really hope I am able to find work with a company that supports this ideal, and understands that individuals can be themselves while still remaining professional, because a lot of businesses don’t.

I hate being human

The world is pissing me off today. That’s as much as an intro as you get. Here are my thoughts.

• The world needs to stop placing blame on Vancouver fans for the recent riot. The riots have nothing to do with the loss of the hockey game, or Vancouver fans being “sore losers”. The riot was started by anarchists in the area and whether or not you believe this doesn’t matter, even if it was alternatively started by Vancouver fans, it continued by people who had found a reason to riot, and ran with it. It has nothing to do with hockey, and it has nothing to do with the loss of the game. To the people who joined in on the rioting just for something to do, you’re disgusting. Grow up. You’re doing this for..what reason? You’re trashing your own city? Really, what are you accomplishing here? Vancouver police however, for being proud of themselves for ending the riot within three hours, that’s a disappointment. In a crowd of that size, you’ve got to be prepared for the worst at all times, and Vancouver definitely was not. Three hours is about two hours too long. The situation could have been handled way better and could everything could have been under control sooner if Van had been prepared, and thought logically about the whole situation. END.
• On another note, thanks to all the awesome Van citizens that helped clean up the city today, and congratulations Boston.
• I cannot stress enough how ridiculous it is that people as a whole care so much about what celebrities do. They are people just like us, they “hang out with their kids”, “go out for ice cream”, “suntan at the beach”. No fucking shit, Sherlock. They’re human. They do things everybody else does. They’re regular people, just like you! I don’t care that Weiner showed whoever his youknowwhat, chances are, you’ve sent pictures of your own. JT smokes pot? WOW. Didn’t see that one coming. Someone you know in real life probably does too! Sex tapes? Divorce? Illegitimate love child? Regular* people things. I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal when celebrities do ordinary things. We put these people on a pedestal, look up to them and expect them to be role models. It’s bullshit. Oh, you’re famous, so you can’t do what you want, but I’m not, so if I cheat on my S/O, the only person who cares is..well, them? Get over it, guys. Celebrities are just people you make to be more popular than you. Stop trying to dictate how other people live, and start paying attention to your own life. END.
• Ford has now come out with a couple of models that have “park assist”, which, for lack of better words is a car that can (mostly) park itself… are you kidding me? Yes, because we need even more technology that allows people to be even worse drivers. Now you can learn how to park just to pass your test, then forget all about it! We are living in a world that is creating more and more technology every day to make our own mind power entirely obsolete. As a species, we are getting stupider and stupider. Yeah, we’re getting to the levels that we’re able to create this technology in record breaking time and new things are becoming available almost daily, that’s cool. But only a small portion of our population is actually responsible for creating such technologies. The rest of us? When it comes down to it, we’re screwed. We don’t know jack, and if for some reason all our technology fails us, well, bye. I can honestly see the human population getting more and more advanced, and then dying out pretty much entirely because everything backfired us, and we lost our abilities to do even the simplest tasks for ourselves. That’s where we’re headed. It’s a really good thing I don’t believe in reincarnation, because there’s no fucking way I want to come back here again.

contre-coup

It upsets me when I read things from young people (and older ones too!) about how they will die alone or never find anyone to be with etc. You have so much more to experience. You have so many more people to meet and so many more things to do throughout your life. I understand moments of hopelessness and doubt, but I don’t understand constantly feeling that way. How can you think at such a young age that there is nothing and no one out there for you? You have so long to go. You don’t need to meet the love of your life when you’re nineteen. Go enjoy yourself, have fun, educate yourself, adventure! Do what you want to do. Play. Laugh. Grow. (thanks FisherPrice). The rest will come to you. If you spend your whole life looking for someone specifically, you’re probably going to miss them altogether. Stop waiting. Take chances.
Live.

Facebook

I made a post the other day about Facebook and everything I have against it (basically. Sorry Facebook, it’s not really personal, I swear), and now I’m going to make another one because I find myself getting more and more annoyed with the way it’s being used lately. If you want to vote on things, enter contests, get up-to-date information on practically anything, stay in contact with people, get to know people.. you have to have a Facebook account. And that’s all fine and dandy..if you have a Facebook account. Currently, not being a Facebook user is seeming to limit the possibilities and options I have. I think it’s ridiculous, totally and completely. Companies and businesses are practically forcing people to be a member of a social networking site in order to interact with the business itself. I am okay with companies promoting their Facebook pages. I get it, a lot of people use Facebook. It makes sense and it’s a smart plan (to an extent). But I think there should be another option. Have a website with the same contests and information available. By only allowing people to access certain things via Facebook, you’re limiting your market and consumers and alienating them from future ideas/improvements/establishments with(in) your organization, as well as your influence on those individuals, which really, is the exact opposite of what you’re trying to do.